loss of memory, ability to say or think of common words/attention problems

For the past few years my memory has been getting bad. I start one thing and if I am interrupted, no matter how short term the interruption is, I forget what I was doing to begin with.  I have gotten to the point that if I am doing something and see that I need to do something else, I know that if I don't stop that moment, that I will forget what it is that I need to do next. It is not only fustrating for myself, but it drives my poor husband nuts to say the very least! The past few months I have had a terrible time thinking of simple, everyday words, like lemon, that I want to say. I can be looking at something and want to say the name of it, but can't find the work or any idea of what the word is.   I forget so many things that my friends say that it is not a matter of if I lose my keys or purse, it's when will I.  I have a busy life, but not to the point that it stresses me or is any worse than everyone elses.  About 20 years ago I was hit by a drunk driver, received a head injury to the front of my head and an MRI indicated that I had brain liesons. They said that my brain was in the condition of having MS.  I have no family history of this disease.  My physician dismissed the possibility of it being MS because for all these years I have had no other symptoms other than a lose of mental clarity and memory. I moved to a small rural area in Texas about 12 years ago and no longer in the area where my neurologist is.   What type of physician should I find to find out what is wrong with me and how I can get back to normal. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreicated!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

A neurologist would be the appropriate referral.

As you can imagine, there are many reasons for memory loss.  This can include metabolic diseases, thyroid diseases, various causes of dementia, infections, stroke, Parkinson's disease to name but a few.

Tests to consider would be a metabolic panel, thyroid tests, blood count, vitamin b12 level, liver tests as well as urine tests.  A repeat MRI as well as imaging of the neck vessels should be considered.

Again, a referral to a neurologist should be considered to discuss these diagnostic options.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[ontherecord]

I have two questions for you:

1. How old are you?
2. When you had your head injury, did you lose consciousness for an extended period of time or have post-traumatic amnesia for an extended period of time?  Besides the lesions, did the MRI show anything else at that time?

This is important information that you left out....

[cowpatty]

I am 50 years old.  I did not lose consciousness after the accident.  I was disoriented, extremely slow thinking and went thru severe depression for weeks after it. Thanks for your interest. I am open to any ideas that may lead to something that would give me anything close to a normal existance.

[cowpatty]

The doctor's reply made me remember another thing.  
About 11 years ago I woke up one morning with my eyes filled with blood.  I felt exhaused and just basically foggy. I could see a blood vessel on my left neck area, just above where it meets my shoulder, that was extremely big and blue. (apparently it way my "exterior Jugular"?? The doctors here didn't know what to do with me so the sent me to an algerist, a ear-nose and throat dr, and then to an oncologist who adventually had a  surgeon fix a rupture of the exterior jugular in my neck.  They had no idea what the cause was, but I felt unbelievably better the morning after the surgery.  They said my heart probably wasn't getting enought oxigen until the fixed it????  I appreciate any insite you may be able to give me.

[ontherecord]

Like the doctor recommended, you need some tests done, including a CBC (complete blood count) and thyroid.  You also need a test for B-12, Syphilis, and Lyme disease, as these can be associated with some of the symptoms you are experiencing.

In addition, there is a correlation between moderate and severe head injuries sustained in early adulthood and Alzheimer's disease later in life, but your head injury would not qualify as moderate or severe, so I do not think that this is a factor (although you should nevertheless mention it to your doctor).

Another question is your alcohol consumption over the last decade or so....if you've abused alcohol that could be a contributing or causal factor, especially if you are deficient in other vitamins.  What are your drinking habits?

As well, have you ever had a transient ischemic attack (small stroke)? An MRI would help exclude this as a possibility as well.  Mini-strokes, or TIA's, go unnoticed by the patient, but full-blown strokes do not.  If you've had numerous TIA's, that could explain your symptoms as well....

So, therefore, I would go to your primary care doctor and get the complete bloodwork done.  Also get a referral to a neurologist, who will order further tests, including an MRI of the brain.  The neurologist will also perform what's called a Mini-Mental Status Exam as part of his or her work-up.  How you score on that test will help to shed light on your symptoms.

In the meantime, abstain from drinking, since that contributes to memory loss, take a multivitamin, and ask your doctor whether the herbal supplement Ginkgo Biloba may be of help, as I'm aware of some studies where this herb has helped people with their memory.

Again, the two questions I have are:
1. Have you ever had or been told you've had a TIA?
2. What (if any) are your drinking habits?

[ontherecord]

Also,

do you by chance live near any electromagnetic fields? These are sources of very high levels of radiation, and often found in smaller, rural towns like the one you described you are in.  If you're close to one, that could also be a contributing or causal factor, especially if it's been 12 years.

[cowpatty]

Thank you for your suggestions.  I do not now, nor have I ever drank or smoked(anything!). I don't know about the mini strokes, but I wonder if that could have had anything to do with the jugular vein problem.  They run in my family.  When I had the problem my mother was still alive and she told me that my grandmother had had a stroke with the clot in the same place.  I really don't know if that means anything, but it may.  We live on a 275 acre parcle.  There is a big, I'm not sure exactly what you would call it, but it is a great big metal thing that electrical wires run thru.  It is located maybe a couple of acres from our residence though.  When we ride the pastures, which is not often for me, we do go right under them.  Our office is located about one acre from it and I am there alot.  You have been so helpful!  I will get an appointment with a neurologist and let you know what he says.